How to Get Out of a Slump, and Handle Pressure Situations Calmly

It turns out that you can get out of a slump or handle pressure situations comfortably by merely changing your facial expressions. I have been trying this over the past several days and have been completely stunned with what happens.

Johnson, Tom H. Tech Writer Voices (2008). Articles>Collaboration>Workplace

How To Get Started As A Copywriter Or Business Writer

If you only read one book, then go for Ogilvy on Advertising, by David Ogilvy. An old book (in adland time) -- published in 1983. But the ghastly advertising mistakes it warns about (and smiles about) continue to this very minute. Each new tribe of copywriting recruits trips over the same stones.

Heath, Jim. Viacorp (2000). Careers>Writing>Workplace

How to Promote Technical Communication Services in Your Organization  

Successfully promoting technical communication services in organizations requires more than just the right brochure, the right slogan, or the right Web page. A technical communication team must first make strategic decisions about how it can most effectively contribute to the success of the overall enterprise. In this paper, I describe how our team successfully improved the perception of our value to the rest of our organization by adopting an attitude of service toward our internal customers.

Pollak, Bill. STC Proceedings (1999). Careers>TC>Workplace

How to Survive a Bad Manager

The best advice for having a bad manager is to seek other employment. Don’t undervalue your happiness: it’s impossible to be happy if you work directly for someone you can’t stand. It may be difficult to find another job, but if you are willing to make compromises in other areas (salary, position, project, location, etc.) it will certainly be possible. Being happy and underpaid is a much better way to spend a life than unhappy and anything else.

Berkun, Scott. ScottBerkun.com (2006). Careers>Workplace>Management

The Human Side of the Digital Divide: Media Experience as the Border of Communication Satisfaction With Email    

Electronic mail (email) has rapidly become one of the most prominent communication media, and a substantial amount of information is processed by it in the contemporary workplace. It is well known that digital technology produces a "digital divide." In addition, it is well examined that the digital divide produces cognitive differences (e.g., knowledge gaps) among users. Yet, little is known about affective disparities. In addition, few studies on the digital divide were undertaken in organizational setting. This study considers the human side of the digital divide in an organizational setting and investigates if the digital divide exists in the workplace by examining multiple dimensions of communication satisfaction. The data from 303 university employees indicates that email experience differentiates communication satisfaction with amount of email and email use for equivocal tasks.

Ishii, Kumi. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2005). Articles>Technology>Email>Workplace

Humor in the Workplace?

Over the years, I've been accused of not taking life seriously enough. Although life certainly is no joke, it's not all Sturm und Drang or Weltschmerz, either. Mostly, I think, it's like Mozart: exhilarating and joyous except when it's not.

Tyler, Craig. Editorial Eye, The (1999). Humor>Workplace>Editing

IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication  

The journal publishes five types of content: (1) research articles (representing the full range of workplace communication issues and all research methods), (2) interface articles (shorter pieces providing a 'translation' of theory and application to workplace communication practice), (3) tutorials (creative training/educational approaches), (4) commentary, and (5) book reviews. Users can search abstracts for research articles published from 1988 to date.

IEEE PCS. Journals>TC>Workplace

If You Want Something Done Right, Don't Do It Yourself

When you get fed up and do decide to blaze your own trail, don't forget to take some friends along with you. You never know when you're going to run into a wild past participle that you need help taming.

Allen, Jennifer. Boston Broadside (1992). Articles>TC>Collaboration>Workplace

The Importance of the Quality Culture  

Cameron discusses the effects of three models of quality cultures in American and European corporations: error detection cultures, error prevention cultures, and creative quality cultures.

Smart, Karl L. Intercom (2001). Careers>Workplace>Quality

Improving Information Quality in Your Web Space: A Take Charge Approach  

With the arrival of the World Wide Web, traditional methods of controlling the quality ofpublished information have been overcome by a technology that allows almost anyone to create and publish information. With this new found freedom in publishing, the quality of information available to the public has decreased when measured by traditional publishing standards. Technical communicators must meet new challenges in monitoring and ensuring that information produced in their organizations and companies is of the highest quality. This paper discusses how the problem evolved and how taking ownership of information on the Web may solve it.

Colvin, Richard D. STC Proceedings (1997). Presentations>Web Design>Workplace

Improving Managerial-Employee Communication: A Case Study  

Technical communicators can use their professional skills to help industry improve managerial-employee communication, an area that directly affects productivity. This case study investigates upward and downward communication at an aerospace company. Beginning with a survey that indicated a number of statistically significant differences between the attitudes of managers and other employees, the researcher then attended a randomly selected series of meetings. As she followed the flow of information within the company, she observed omissions and inaccuracies. The company devised a new process for information deployment as a result of this study.

Horowitz, Renee B. STC Proceedings (1994). Careers>Business Communication>Workplace

Improving the Writer-Developer Relationship  

Many technical communicators work in environments where their contributions and value-add to business are not well understood. This perpetuates a lack of respect for the technical communication profession on the part of the technologists with whom we work. By improving our overall work processes and practices, we can change the perceptions of those around us for the better, improving our relationships and increasing the quality of our contributions. We can also begin to see technical communication as a practiced profession equal in importance to the professions of the technologists with whom we work.

Colvin, Richard D. and Virginia Beecher. STC Proceedings (1999). Articles>Workplace>Collaboration

In Praise of Applause  

The author calls for a return to public recognition--rather than just a quick e-mail acknowledgment--of people's accomplishments. Legg presents the benefits of public celebration: It opens positive communication, builds self-esteem, inspires others, and shows and gains respect. She also deflates many of the perceived obstacles to public praise, and encourages readers to use their communication skills to acknowledge others.

Legg, Kathy A. Intercom (2000). Careers>Workplace>Assessment

In the Company of Lawyers  

In this hypothetical dilemma, a senior technical writer at a pharmaceuticals firm must choose between honoring his company's nondisclosure policy or publishing the results of a usability study that could greatly improve patient compliance with written instructions for prescription drugs, thereby saving lives.

Bryan, John G. Intercom (2002). Articles>Workplace>Ethics

In the Gyres  

A fictional account of an in-house newsletter editor pressured to serve his bosses' interests raises important questions about the ethics of office politics.

Bryan, John G. Intercom (2000). Articles>Workplace>Ethics

The India Paradox  

Kamath describes the complex interplay among many competing cultural forces that makes technical communication in India such a challenge.

Kamath, Gurudutt R. Intercom (2000). Articles>Workplace>Ethics>India

The Indian Call Center Experience: A Case Study in Changing Discourses of Identity, Identification, and Career in a Global Context    

This study examines the processes by which workers in a particular Indian call center located in Kolkata expanded on, negotiated, and chose among an array of possible, especially new, identities and identifications and the ways that these choices affected changing social discourses. Our case study depicted a workplace that was simultaneously casual and urgent, temporal and spatially free and constrained, situated in both Indian and U.S. cultures, and oriented toward business and night-club ambiances. Within this particular workplace, call center employees (re)constructed and negotiated among an array of discourses that bracketed opportunities for particular identities and identifications. Through these negotiation processes, they (a) engaged in strategic identity(ies) invocations and (b) reframed work, career, and family discourses and practices.

Pal, Mahuya and Patrice Buzzanell. JBC (2008). Articles>Business Communication>Workplace>India

Industry Takes Up The Challenge Of Sustainability  

Around the world, especially in Europe, companies are discovering that they have much to gain by employing the techniques of environmental management. They find that they are helping themselves, while improving the world we live in at the same time. By reviewing the effect on the environment caused by products and production methods, companies save money, improve their image, motivate employees and expand their influence, while often gaining new market shares because of better and more sustainable products. The stories of some of these companies are followed by guidelines for involving employees in environmental management to improve results and motivation.

Yelverton, Bonnie. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>Management>Workplace

The Influence of E-Mail as an Interoffice Communication Tool in Small Organizations    

E-mail has significantly impacted the way we communicate in business, possibly going so far as to affect the social structure of organizations. One under-explored effect of e-mail is how it impacts communication in smaller organizations. Given the ability of regular face-to-face interaction, is e-mail necessary to boost communication? A report of employee attitudes in one small business did provide an opportunity to observe the impact of e-mail on communications and employee attitudes. As a result, it is suspected that interoffice e-mail may serve to link formal and informal communication channels, particularly in terms of including managers to the informal communications network.

Adrian, C. Mitchell. Journal of Technical Writing and Communication (2001). Articles>Workplace>Collaboration>Email

Information Technology and the Emergence of a Worker-Centered Organization    

Barbara Mirel's narrative highlights the interplay of profit, power, and personalities in a software engineering project. My response's purpose is to widen the perspective on the story. More specifically, I contend that information technology (IT) enables positive change in today's workplace. Rather than being techno-centric, the re-visions currently being brought about by IT will place the knowledge worker of the 21st century at the center of design and engineering considerations. I support my claim by identifying four trends in organizational management that will afford human factors and usability engineering a better seat at the table in the not too distant future. They are (1) requirements for next-generation IT applications, (2) improved understanding of culture and context in the workplace, (3) recognition of knowledge management and human capital, and (4) fostering strategic leadership beyond resource management.

Carlson, Patricia A. Journal of Computer Documentation (2000). Careers>Workplace>Technology

Instant Messaging in the Workplace  

Proposes six guidelines for employee use of instant messaging.

Hoffman, Jeff. Intercom (2004). Articles>Workplace>Collaboration>Instant Messaging

The Institutionalization of Usability

Discusses practical usability, The Third Wave of the Information Age, the institutionalization of usability, developing a holistic strategy, measuring success, and getting started.

Schaffer, Eric M. Human Factors International (2006). Presentations>Usability>Workplace

Integrated Strategic Communication: More than the Sum of Its Parts  

Adopting a hybrid organizational structure over 40 years ago has permitted the Communications Department of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control-Orlando to evolve new capabilities and undertake new missions. The result has been an independent organization that proactively responds to business opportunities, strategically applies numerous resources, and adds new skill sets that help Missiles and Fire Control capture and retain military contracts.

Voss, Daniel W. and William C. Wiese. STC Proceedings (2003). Articles>TC>Workplace

Internal and External Brand: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Internal branding is alive and well, and continues to evolve as more people realize how powerful it is as a business tool. You may hear it called by different names, such as employer branding, employee branding or employee value propositioning, but whatever the term, it is an important and useful concept.

Covill, Simon. Communication World Bulletin (2006). Articles>Business Communication>Marketing>Workplace